Michigan State University

See what students say:

Academics

Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan is a “research intensive school, meaning there are a lot of opportunities to pursue undergraduate research.” As a “top-tier research university, many students involved in undergraduate research can participate in meaningful studies which yield publications, “ and students say that “through [their] professors, [they] have been able to secure paid international internships and research positions.” One student says that during their first year, “I participated on a panel for entrepreneurship with the dean of the business school, the director of entrepreneurship, two other students and an alum.” Professors in schools such as “James Madison and Lyman Briggs,” or the Honors College, “which prides itself on offering course flexibility and customization,” have “some of the best professors in the country.” A transfer student says that professors largely “understand that teaching a class not only means spewing out information, but also means teaching students how to learn and be successful in and beyond class.” They can “teach flexibly, meaning they can adjust their techniques to cater to the students and they can also explain the subject matter in multiple ways so that it gets across to all of the different learners.” The college offers generous scholarships and “professor assistantships to incoming freshmen,” which provides “the opportunity to do paid research.” Top programs include the “Veterinary Medicine, teaching, and business schools that attract people from all over the world,” and the nationally renowned nuclear physics and agriculture programs.”

Student Body

MSU “fosters an environment of laid-back, yet urgent creativity,” says one student. “You won’t find an air of pompous prestige anywhere on campus (maybe some frats) but you will find extremely driven people.” Another says “We’re Spartan strong and we’re here to support and encourage one another: It’s a big family here.” The student body at Michigan State is “diverse and massive.” The student body certainly shares a sense of camaraderie “epitomized by the popular slogan ‘Spartans Will’.” While the student body is “academically oriented” and “can provide their peers an intellectual challenge,” the student body at MSU is “not overly competitive, and generally seems to work towards intellectual cooperation rather than cut-throat competition.” “It is hard to paint one picture of a student body that hosts more than 50,000 people,” says one student, “especially one as diverse as the one we have at Michigan State.” Yet everyone at MSU “never misses a beat to yell Go White! in response to Go Green!”

Campus Life

“The greatest strength of this school, for me, is the beauty of the campus,” says one student. The large campus and its surroundings offers “a lot of options, from museums, gardens, fountains, the famous Rock, where people paint to promote events and clubs, and a river in the middle of campus.” Boasts another student, “Some schools have terrible cafeteria food, but MSU has some of the best in the country,” with “a variety of choices as well as healthy options and meals for those with special dietary needs.” The dining plans have unlimited access to the dozen or so dining halls across campus, so it is “always easy to get good food when living on campus.” Sports are popular too, with “huge campus-wide spirit on football game days.” Broadcasted “in almost every residence hall on the TVs and certainly in every recreational facility, the sports here are what makes MSU, MSU!” Most students “enjoy tailgating, as well as basketball and hockey games.” The campus bus route “takes students to MSU/East Lansing and surrounding town locations, including shopping malls.” The Wharton Center “gives student discounts for most shows,” and “people go out to eat on Grand River, which has a lot of great restaurants.” Students also “chill” at large parties “with loud music and alcohol.” Relatedly, many students are concerned that Michigan State isn’t dealing with the high-profile and troubling sexual assault cases in a pro-active way, and strongly urge administration to establish better policies.

LEARNING DISABILITY: Students have two options for documentation described below.
Option 1: Comprehensive documentation must appear on official letterhead from a licensed medical or diagnostic professional and include the following:
• a specific statement of the diagnosis
• the necessary assessments that were administered and their corresponding scores
• summary of related functional limitations (such as activities affecting the learning process)
• recommendations for accommodations
Option 2: Your licensed medical or diagnostic professional may complete the RCPD Learning Disability Documentation Form found at https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/services/learning.

Documentation Required for ADHD

Those who have been diagnosed with ADHD may have their licensed medical professional (i.e., Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Physician) submit a copy of the diagnostic report plus a completed RCPD ADHD Disability Documentation Form found at https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/services/adhd.

Student Services

Sustainability

Green might be the color of Spartan pride, but it also stands for something else at Michigan State University: dedication and dollars. MSU puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to its commitment to sustainability. Recently, MSU joined the Better Buildings Challenge, a national energy-efficiency initiative, where they committed to helping U.S. buildings become 20 percent more efficient by 2020. As if that weren’t impressive enough, MSU’s Recycling Center and Surplus Store, a $13.3 million LEED Gold building, has expanded recycling efforts to 553 buildings on campus. This has helped the university achieve 57 percent reduction in waste. MSU earned a STARS Silver rating in 2012. Further, the Secchia Center of MSU’s College of Human Medicine, with its photovoltaic electricity-generating glass, has achieved LEED Gold. To reduce the impact of transportation on the 5,200-acre campus, the Capital Area Transit Authority currently operates seven 40-foot hybrid buses and three 60-foot articulating hybrid buses on MSU’s campus, while MSU’s own fleet has increased hybrids to sixty-nine vehicles. The university maintains a bike fleet and service center that was recently named a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. Students interested in learning about sustainability issues inside the classroom can take advantage of the many sustainability-related majors, programs, and specializations available on campus.

Data provided by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS®, as of March, 2018.

Campus Security Report

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: http://ope.ed.gov/security

Overnight Dorm Stays

Transportation

Capitol City Airport serves the Greater Lansing Area and is a 15-minute taxi ride to the MSU campus. Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses operate in East Lansing with a station directly next to campus.

Driving Instructions to Campus

Traverse City or Points North via I-75
Proceed south on I-75 to US 27 near Grayling. Proceed south on US 27 past St. Johns; then follow US 127 towards Lansing. Proceed south on US 127 to the Saginaw Street (M-43)/Grand River Avenue/Michigan Avenue exit; continue straight through the intersection at Saginaw Street; continue straight through the intersection at Michigan Avenue; continue straight to the Kalamazoo Street intersection, and turn left onto Kalamazoo street; continue traveling east on Kalamazoo Street, going straight through the stoplight at the Harrison Road intersection onto the MSU Campus. Follow the curve to the left; at the statue of Sparty, turn right (east) onto Red Cedar Road; immediately on your right will be Lot 62W, the visitor's parking lot north of Spartan Stadium. Enter the lot (take a lot ticket) and park. Bring your lot ticket with you to have it validated.
Detroit or Points East via I-96
Proceed west on I-96 to northbound US-127; proceed north on US-127 to the Flint/Clare exit (exit #8); take this exit, then take the Kalamazoo Street/Michigan Avenue exit. At the stoplight, turn right onto Kalamazoo Street; continue traveling east on Kalamazoo Street, going straight through the stoplight at the Harrison Road intersection onto the MSU Campus. Follow the curve to the left; at the statue of Sparty, turn right (east) onto Red Cedar Road; immediately on your right will be Lot 62W, the visitor's parking lot north of Spartan Stadium. Enter the lot (take a lot ticket) and park. Bring your lot ticket with you to have it validated.
Grand Rapids or Points West via I-96
Proceed east on I-96 to eastbound I-69; proceed east on I-69 to southbound US-127; proceed south on US-127 to the Saginaw Street (M-43)/Grand River Avenue/Michigan Avenue exit; continue straight through the intersection at Saginaw Street; continue straight through the intersection at Michigan Avenue; continue straight to the Kalamazoo Street intersection, and turn left onto Kalamazoo street; continue traveling east on Kalamazoo Street, going straight through the stoplight at the Harrison Road intersection onto the MSU Campus. Follow the curve to the left; at the statue of Sparty, turn right (east) onto Red Cedar Road; immediately on your right will be Lot 62W, the visitor's parking lot north of Spartan Stadium. Enter the lot (take a lot ticket) and park. Bring your lot ticket with you to have it validated.
Flint or Points East via I-69
Proceed southwest on I-69 to southbound US-127; proceed south on US-127 to the Saginaw Street (M-43)/Grand River Avenue/Michigan Avenue exit; continue straight through the intersection at Saginaw Street; continue straight through the intersection at Michigan Avenue; continue straight to the Kalamazoo Street intersection, and turn left onto Kalamazoo street; continue traveling east on Kalamazoo Street, going straight through the stoplight at the Harrison Road intersection onto the MSU Campus. Follow the curve to the left; at the statue of Sparty, turn right (east) onto Red Cedar Road; immediately on your right will be Lot 62W, the visitor's parking lot north of Spartan Stadium. Enter the lot (take a lot ticket) and park. Bring your lot ticket with you to have it validated.
Jackson or Points South via US-127
Proceed north on US-127 to the Flint/Clare exit (exit #8); take this exit, then take the Kalamazoo Street/Michigan Avenue exit. At the stoplight, turn right onto Kalamazoo Street; continue traveling east on Kalamazoo Street, going straight through the stoplight at the Harrison Road intersection onto the MSU Campus. Follow the curve to the left; at the statue of Sparty, turn right (east) onto Red Cedar Road; immediately on your right will be Lot 62W, the visitor's parking lot north of Spartan Stadium. Enter the lot (take a lot ticket) and park. Bring your lot ticket with you to have it validated.